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Hundreds of bras line Kansas River bridge

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- An exhibit across a Kansas River bridge near Lawrence features hundreds of decorated bras and is intended to raise awareness about breast cancer.

The Bras Across the Kaw display along the guardrail on the east side of the bridge aims to drawn attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and promote Health Care Access, a clinic that provides health care for low-income Douglas County residents, The Lawrence Journal-World reported (http://bit.ly/15RhvbZ ).

Shelly Wakeman, director of the Health Care Clinic, says the exhibit isn't new, but that people didn't always know the purpose of the display or who hung the hundreds of bras decorated with buttons, paint and ribbons. Two large pink banners hung this year explain those points.

Wakeman and several volunteers on Sunday hung about 300 donated bras, looping the bras around a bungee cord and used zip ties to connect them to the rail.

"The whole purpose is to catch peoples' attention and, if they're a woman, hopefully get them to schedule their mammogram," Wakeman said. "Or, if they're a man who loves a woman, to get them to encourage her to schedule one."

Money raised from sponsorship of Bras Across the Kaw will go toward women's services at Health Care Access. The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 20.